College Men’s Hoops: Rock Valley rallies for program’s first national title

Saturday

Mar 15, 2014 at 10:40 PMMar 15, 2014 at 10:40 PM

By Ron BernthalFor the Register Star

LOCH SHELDRAKE, N.Y. — As the Rock Valley College men’s basketball team donned its new national champion hats and medals, Coach Craig Doty couldn’t help but reflect.

“This team is a family, it really is. We have amazing chemistry, and that is so important to our success,” he said after the Golden Eagles’ 79-69 victory over Caldwell (N.C.) Tech in the NJCAA Division III National Championship game Saturday night.

The victory marked the first national title for the men’s program.

The title didn’t come easy. RVC had to rally from a 32-24 halftime deficit created by Caldwell’s stifling defense and the Golden Eagles’ cold hand from 3-point land.

RVC did just that, shooting and defending more aggressively, breaking the press, and finding its way through Caldwell’s tight perimeter.

Behind the hot hands of L.T. Davis, Brandt Voiles and Jared Mayes, the Golden Eagles caught fire. Mayes’ layup six minutes into the second half gave RVC the lead 42-40, and was part of a 40-25 run that eventually put them up 64-57 with 4:23 minutes left.

Caldwell fought back, cutting the margin to three at 72-69 when Davis sank a clutch 3-pointer with 39 seconds left. Then, with Caldwell forced to foul, Davis added a pair of free throws 12 seconds later that clinched the victory.

“It really feels great,” said Davis, who finished with 21 points and gained tournament MVP honors. “We came out of the locker room at halftime prepared to hustle, and do all the little things that we didn’t do so much at the beginning of the game.

“To get the win tonight for the school, and our coach, and the fans here, is fantastic.”

Mayes added 28 points and was voted to the All-Tournament Team. Voiles collected a team-high eight rebounds and six assists.